Poem Analysis - Ode To The Medieval Poets

An Ode to a Lost Cheerfulness

W.H. Auden's "Ode to the Medieval Poets" is a lament for a perceived loss of vitality and good humor in contemporary poetry compared to the works of medieval masters like Chaucer and Langland. The poem contrasts the hardships faced by these earlier poets with the relative comfort of modern life, suggesting that this ease has paradoxically led to a decline in poetic spirit. The tone is initially admiring and almost envious, shifting to a somewhat self-deprecating acknowledgement of his own limitations. Ultimately, the poem ends with a note of wistful resignation.

The Paradox of Progress: Comfort Versus Creativity

One central theme is the paradox of progress. Auden highlights the stark contrast between the challenging lives of medieval poets – plagued by disease, religious persecution, and violence – and the comparatively comfortable existence of modern poets. He explicitly points out the medieval poets’ lack of "anaesthetics or plumbing," and the constant "daily peril" they faced from various threats. The poem questions whether this comfort, rather than fostering creativity, has actually stifled it. Auden suggests that the very "creature comfort" that protects modern poets may have ironically made them "morose or kinky," lacking the robust cheerfulness he admires in their predecessors. The poem implies that hardship and a more direct engagement with the darker aspects of life might be essential ingredients for creating truly vital and engaging art.

The Burden of Ego: From Community to Isolation

Another significant theme is the shift from communal values to individual ego. Auden contrasts the seemingly anonymous nature of many medieval works, referring to the "brother Anons," with the self-centeredness he perceives in modern poets. He accuses modern "makers" of being "petrified by their gorgon egos," implying that self-importance and a preoccupation with personal identity have become a barrier to genuine artistic expression. The medieval poets, perhaps because they were more connected to a shared cultural context and less focused on individual fame, were able to create art that was "bawdy but not grubby," a reflection of a shared, unashamed human experience. The focus on ego in modern poetry seems to have led, in Auden’s view, to a certain “kinkiness” and alienation.

Yearning for a Lost Joy: Imagery of Vitality

The poem uses vivid imagery to represent both the harsh realities of the medieval world and the lost sense of joy Auden associates with that era. The images of "witches, warlocks, lepers, The Holy Office, foreign mercenaries / burning as they came" paint a picture of a brutal and dangerous world. In contrast, Auden evokes a sense of vibrant, natural beauty when he mentions the desire to write "verses to applaud a thundery / jovial June when the judas-tree is in blossom." The "judas-tree," with its complex symbolism (referencing both beauty and betrayal), might suggest the complex relationship between beauty and pain. This image serves to highlight Auden’s yearning for a poetry that captures the raw, unadulterated joy of life, even amidst its inherent difficulties. The "thundery jovial June" represents a kind of exuberant, unrestrained energy that he feels is missing from contemporary verse.

A Poet's Lament: Accepting Inadequacy

In conclusion, "Ode to the Medieval Poets" is a complex and somewhat melancholic reflection on the perceived decline of poetic spirit in the modern age. Auden uses the contrast between the hardships faced by medieval poets and the comforts enjoyed by their modern counterparts to explore the idea that ease may paradoxically stifle creativity. The poem suggests that the focus on individual ego and the loss of a connection to shared cultural values have contributed to a sense of alienation and a lack of genuine joy in contemporary poetry. Ultimately, Auden acknowledges his own limitations, confessing that the medieval poets "would have wrought them so much better," leaving the reader with a sense of wistful admiration for a lost artistic vitality and a deep understanding of his own poetic place.